Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1190°C(2174°F)
Soak Time10 minutes
Tempering
Temperature551°C(1024°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
62 - 65 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness4/10
Edge Retention7.5/10
Corrosion Resistance1.5/10
Ease of Sharpening3.5/10
Overall Score16.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Invented by W. Breelor in USA in 1937 - tungsten-molybdenum HSS
- 2Most popular HSS worldwide - replaced T1 due to superior properties
- 3Historical lineage: Mushet steel (1868) → T1 (1910) → M2 (1937)
- 4Composition: ~6% tungsten, ~5% molybdenum, ~4% chromium, ~2% vanadium
- 5Achieves 64+ HRC hardness - among the hardest knife steels
- 6Red hardness - maintains edge at temperatures that soften other steels
- 7Not stainless (only 4% Cr) - requires regular oiling
- 8Finer grain structure than most tool steels due to W+Mo carbides
- 9Custom makers favor it for fine slicing knives with very thin edges
- 10CPM M4 has largely replaced M2 in factory production
Famous Uses
Bark River Bravo 1 M2
Custom high-performance fixed blades
Industrial cutting tools
Best For
Thin high-performance cutting blades
Edge-focused cutters
Maximum sharpness applications
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Wet environments (rusts actively)
- Beginners (complex heat treatment)
- Thin kitchen knives
Expert Tips
- 1Superior at 64 HRC rather than 60-62
- 2Not for heavy-duty
- 3Being replaced by M4 in some uses